House Resolution 1

A RESOLUTION URGING AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE TO EXPEL REPRESENTATIVE KARL OLIVER DUE TO THE INCENDIARY AND RACIALLY OFFENSIVE PUBLIC STATEMENTS HE MADE REGARDING "LYNCHING" OF "LEADERSHIP" RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVAL OF CONFEDERATE STATUES IN NEW ORLEANS.

WHEREAS, Section 55 of the Mississippi Constitution provides, in part, that "Each House may determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present, expel a member..."; and

WHEREAS, Representative Karl Oliver's public statement calling for the "lynching" of "leadership" responsible for the removal of Confederate statues in New Orleans, Louisiana, was racially offensive, racially provocative and evidenced a complete lack of appreciation for and knowledge of the accurate history and experiences of Mississippi's citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Representative Oliver's additional inflammatory public statement on the same day, "Let it be known, I will do all in my power to prevent this from happening in our state," evidences his intent to "lynch" those who disagree with his stance on the removal of Confederate statues and other Confederate era symbols; and

WHEREAS, Representative Oliver's apology for using the word "lynching" does not mitigate the sentiment nor remove the rousing effects of his words on those who believe similarly and his presence will exacerbate the ever present tensions around race and class on the work of the Mississippi Legislature; and

WHEREAS, because statements such as these exceed mere disorderly behavior and shame the office of Mississippi Representatives; and

WHEREAS, as members of the Mississippi Legislature struggle to work across party, racial and gender lines, Representative Oliver's continued presence in the Legislature will deter and diminish any further progress amongst members; and

WHEREAS, due to his actions, Representative Oliver should no longer be a member of this distinguished body:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE State of Mississippi, That we urge at least two-thirds of the members of the Mississippi House of Representatives to vote to permanently expel Representative Karl Oliver from the Mississippi House of Representatives due to the incendiary and racially offensive public statements he made regarding "lynching" of "leadership" responsible for removal of Confederate statues in New Orleans.